Principles for Relationships from God's Word by Claudio Consuegra

Ideas for parenting twins – 2

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. John 20:24 (NKJV)

Rebekah Lowin, of TODAY,[i] shares more of the eleven responses she received from parents of twin children:

There’s no need to rhyme. You can give them distinct names without a need to rhyme or alliterate.

If they choose to act alike, it’s OK to go with it. Simply put, let them be their own selves. You can expose them to a variety of things – reading material, clothes, activities, sports, etc. They can each pick and choose what they may wish to do. Chances are they will have some similarities and some differences, just like any siblings. If they want to dress alike, they can. If they pick different outfits, that’s fine, too.

Let them be themselves. Celebrate the differences and allow each child to develop their own interests.

Spread out their “baby’s first” and “kid’s first” moments. They don’t have to share every life landmark. Don’t show disappointment because one os not doing what the other is or because he/she is not achieving things as early or as well as the other.

Have some one-on-one time with each of them separately. Even though they are very close, try to spend time with them one-on-one. Even just taking one to the store while Daddy stays home with the other kids is beneficial.

Don’t stress about fostering any “twin bonds.” As a mother stated, “There is no need to encourage their bond. It is natural!”

At the end of the day, they’re just like any siblings. There is an undeniable closeness and similarity between twins, but they are still two separate individuals and should be treated that way. Neither should be compared to the other so no animosity and unhealthy competitiveness develops into a dislike or even hatred for the other. Only parents of multiple births can fully understand and appreciate the awesome responsibility, the weight of the amount of work it involves, and the multiplicity of the blessings it brings. . . and they would not trade it for anything else in the world.